Grocery List Calculator
Estimate the cost of a week of groceries based on household size and shopping style. US averages from BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Inputs
Weekly grocery budget
—
Monthly
—
Annual
—
Per person per week
—
Potential weekly savings
—
About Grocery List Calculator
USDA food plans
USDA publishes 4 cost levels updated monthly. Thrifty is the SNAP benefit baseline. Liberal reflects upper-end spending. Most middle-class families spend between moderate and liberal.
Tactics to save
Shop with a list, meal-plan weekly, use store brands (often 20-30% cheaper), buy seasonal produce, freeze meat sales, limit dining out. Each typically saves 5-15%.
Inflation impact
Food prices rose 25% from 2020 to 2024 — among the highest CPI categories. Many families shifted down one tier (liberal → moderate) without changing what they bought.